1978 is an up and down year, one month hot and the next sloppy and musically unkempt (not unlike '89 & '91). May is conventionally overlooked for the better April or July, but there are a few above average shows; and this one, the best of the month. There's some aggression this night that you don't always get in the era. It's also a great example if you want to hear how '78 differs from '77.

First Set. Mississippi warms up nicely and after that the set stays firmly in X factor. Cassidy is hotter than soup and does not have the final vox refrain, giving it character. They Love Each Other is good but this Looks Like Rain is a potent version; Keith, Donna, Bobby, Jer, all are perfect [the beginning is edited on the OFF, cutting 18secs, and inexplicably @7:26, cutting 14secs]. After a brief Merry-Go-Round Broke Down [not on the OFF] comes a solid Musta Been Roses. Keith is louder on the SBD, Bobby's guitar is louder on the OFF. Listen closely for Bobby testing Shakedown chords, a few months before it was played. Me & My Uncle has both casual playing and detailed playing – especially rhythm. You can't go wrong with this Big River, but so many things are perfect about this Brown Eyed Women. It just hits all the marks. To gild the set, Let it Grow is awesome in spite of itself, with several great sections. Bobby's playing here is exceptional. At about 12secs longer than 6/9/76, I presume it's the longest.

Second Set. They're back and they are carrying X factor with them. Samson & Delilah is a steady assault tactic, so breathe deep before you plunge [Keith still more easily heard on the SBD]. Ship of Fools wins in part because of a better tempo. Estimated has a serious edge to it, adding excitement, and after that the set is average '78 until the last few. Goin' Down the Road is solid enough, but they've overextended. Around & Around is part shouting, part stuttering, part shoes in the dryer. Every verse is flubbed on U.S. Blues and it's a wash.

1st Set:   A
2nd Set: C+
Overall = 4¼ stars

Highlights:
First Set – whole set, all players
Samson & Delilah – steady assault
Ship of Fools – better tempo
Estimated Prophet – serious edge

SOURCES: The miller_108996 is the updated SBD. 30 Trips has the whole show, except an edited LLR, and it has the channels switched. Definitive Live has Samson & Delilah.

The day I graduated from Swampscott High School in the spring of 1977, I could not have told you which band Jerry Garcia played in. When I got to Harvard (where I later met Frank Streeter), Steve O'Leary of blessed memory lent me his copy of Europe '72, and asked me to figure out where China Cat Sunflower stopped, and I Know You Rider started. I listened to that cut a dozen times, and I was intrigued. There began my suspicion that these guys were on to something.

That suspicion was confirmed after I heard my first 15 seconds of the Half Step opener that night in Providence. By then I knew that the question about a Grateful Dead concert had forever changed for me, as Joanie Begonias always says, from "Are we going?" to "How are we getting there?"

I was sitting behind the stage, and at some point in the Half Step coda Garcia crouched into a peeling run, and the crowd visibly rippled in response, as if it was a single organism. (As I came to know, it was.) I remember Not Fade Away, particularly, as an unhurried, genuinely exploratory journey we all took together (this was before the time of the rote crowd participation in NFA).

I turned to poor unfortunate Doug, sitting next to me with his DIY nitrous dispenser, and said to him "Look, I know it's night time, but doesn't it seem like it's day time in here?" After I said that to him for the sixth or seventh time, he patiently said "Just listen to the music play." So I did. And I am still listening, and playing, and my life has been informed and transformed by the Music and the community that grew around it.

As it happens, my first show was a pretty good one. The recording is excellent (thanks Dan and Charley), and the songs are well played. I don't know whether memories are real or constructed, but when I listen to this show, can hear and feel the playfulness of the band, and my unbridled astonishment, come down through the years.

78 is solid. I love 77 and seems to get all the accolades. Sping 78 is Gold. 78, Charlie Miller its about as good as it gets.
Smooth is the best description I can come up with. This is 2 years before I got in the Bus. The Band was tight and Jerry was on in his game. A Miller SBD from spring 78 is in my opinion some of the Best I have heard, and I've heard alot. It's like a warm blanket on a cold night. Jerry is just so fluent and comfortable it engulfs your entire being. A fantastic recording of a beautiful show. Thanks again Charlie you made my day.

This One Rolls Along Until Bobby Pulls Out The Slide After Drums."Blind Avocodo Bob-o Should Have Practiced At Home,Not During Performances.Seems The Wind Comes Out Of The Sails A Bit Hence.

This is an amazing show. The highlights being a fiery Brown Eyed Women, a terrific runthrough of LLR with a killer Jerry solo,a superior Let It Grow that stretches out for 17 minutes, and then absolutely every second of Estimated Prophet until the end of the show (give or take a few minutes in the Drums area). Jerry is on fire during Prophet, soul meltingly so, and then Phil catches some of that fire and busts out an down and dirty beat for Eyes!!.
This may be one of my favorite Eyes of the World. Definitely top 10. Really up beat and moving. Lots of energy here.
Everything else is just icing on the cake at this point, NFA is long and grooving with some great tones Jerry.

This was another in a series of great shows that spring. I went to the phenomenal 5/11/78 Springfield concert, then the 5/13/78 show in Philly, back in the car to cruise up to RI for this one. Pouring rain going up NJ turnpike , we witnessed a laughable & memorable moment, some person driving without use of wipers, was trying to 'manually' work the wipers (meaning his left arm was out the window, moving them back & forth in the driving rain). unforgettable! LL Rain was totally appropriate for this show, and always one of my favorite Bobby tunes, especially when Jerry cranked up his solo spot. This archive is great, as you can check out shows you went to, but never got a tape or copy of!

This is one of my new favorites!

If you don't have time for much be sure to check out the Brown Eyed Women and check out the WTF moment! It's at about 2:15, it almost sounds like it skips, but every version I've heard has it. It's just phenomenal playing!
I also recommend the Estimated! Nice funky jam.
The entire show has great energy!

Thanks for the incredible recording Mr. Miller!

I wrote this review for one of the AUD copies. Probably belongs here as it was this copy I was listening to when I got my face blown off.

>>
I don't go around looking for great versions of LLR, though I do know of a couple (this one and 9-21-82 really strike me). Coupla years ago I burned this first set to disc to listen to in the car. Not sure why, maybe someone recommended it? Anyway I'm listening to a pleasant first set then LLR comes on. It's well played and all, but when the solo hits I was just stunned. I rewound it and listened to that minute of the song dozens of times. It's just freaking incredible. The copy I was listening to was a SBD. Just listened to this because I was trying to find *that* LLR again - must have given away the CD I burned. Listening on speakers built into my computer I'm not sure the aud packs the same punch as far as this solo is concerned.
Even if you don't particularly care for LLR, get the sbd, play it very loud and listen to not just garcia's phrasing but the way the band coalesces behind him. 50 seconds of absolutely triumphant Garcia.
No rating because I haven't heard the whole show yet.

Another great transfer by Mr. Miller and a really great show - hangs right in there with 2/3 and 2/5.
Have become a fan of early 1978, the energy in some of those shows is incredible!!

Countless collectors through the years have labeled Spring/Summer tours of 1978 as being boring, uninspired and lame. I think this opinion will change after more people take the time to listen to shows like this one. The BEW and Let It Grow are outstanding renditions. Garcia employed a thick tone courtesy of Wolf during these tours which adds a fun, country jazz flair to the jams.

is almost 18 mins.

Right on Charlie!!!You did it again. At last, one of the underrated shows from an unappreciated tour! Spring, '78! Dig this.....and I thought the SB never existed!

Jerry>Solo during Estimated! Unreal! Long intro to NFA>a beauty, subtle even for '77-'78!

Great pre-egypt 78 show! The Let It Grow and Estimated -> Eyes are the big highlights, but the rest is really a solid show as well.

Charlie's transfer is superb as usual, great to have a nice board of this show - I'm going to create a CD, something I don't usually do :)